Under Which Circumstances Will Migrants Be Deported from Russia? Proposed Legislation

Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) is proposing to expand the framework for deporting foreign nationals from the country not only for migration violations but also for other offenses that will be defined in the administrative violations code. According to information provided to TASS by the agency's press center, these may include violations of traffic rules while under the influence of alcohol, as well as corruption-related offenses.

The MIA has prepared a comprehensive bill that proposes to establish new mechanisms for monitoring migrants in the country. This bill consolidates current administrative measures for expulsion and deportation into one concept: 'deportation from Russia's borders.' To implement the provisions of the bill, corresponding amendments will also be made to other legislative acts, including the code on administrative violations.

“In this regard, it is planned to review the composition of administrative violations in the field of migration, as well as the definition of administrative responsibility for foreign citizens, allowing for deportation (instead of existing administrative expulsion) not only for migration violations but also for the commission of other administrative offenses that will be defined in the draft of a new code of administrative violations being developed by the Ministry of Justice of Russia,” the agency's press center noted.

According to the MIA, these administrative violations will be classified as 'gross' violations. “Among them, 'gross' violations will include actions related to extremism, terrorism, corruption, trafficking in weapons and drugs, and offenses against public safety or order in public places, as well as violations of traffic safety while under the influence of alcohol or cases where the vehicle driver refuses to undergo a medical examination,” the department clarified.

Additionally, the expulsion of foreign citizens may be possible for administrative violations that carry a penalty of deprivation of special rights. In the process of refining the expansion of the types of violations for which deportation may be assigned, it is planned to also consider offenses classified as 'gross violations,' the MIA emphasized.